Aglaonema plant named ‘Mukrock’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aglaonema  plant named ‘Mukrock’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly arching plant habit; freely clumping habit; vigorous and robust growth habit; relatively short internodes giving a compact, dense and full plant form; large lanceolate leaves with undulate margins that are dark green in color; dark green-colored petioles; and relative tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Aglaonema hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MUKROCK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Mukrock’.

The new Aglaonema plant is the product of a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new full, dense and compactAglaonema plants with good plant vigor, interesting and unique leafshapes and variegation patterns, resistance to pathogens and pests andtolerance to low temperatures.

The new Aglaonema plant is the product of a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor on Mar. 6, 2004 of a proprietary selection of Aglaonemahybrida identified as code number AG-2004-24, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection of Aglaonema tenuipes,not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Aglaonema plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor in April, 2005 as a singleplant from within the resultant progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled environment in Tiruporur, Chennai, India.

Asexual reproduction of the new Aglaonema plant by cuttings anddivisions in a controlled environment in Tiruporur, Chennai, India sinceSeptember, 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Aglaonemaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Aglaonema have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Mukrock’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Mukrock’ as a new and distinct Aglaonema plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly arching plant habit.    -   2. Freely clumping habit.    -   3. Vigorous and robust growth habit.    -   4. Relatively short internodes giving a compact, dense and full        plant form.    -   5. Large lanceolate leaves with undulate margins that are dark        green in color.    -   6. Dark green-colored petioles.    -   7. Relatively tolerant to low temperatures.

Plants of the new Aglaonema differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema are more outwardly arching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema are more freely clumping than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema have larger, longer and more        undulate leaves than plants of the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the female parent selection        differ in leaf coloration.

Plants of the new Aglaonema differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema are more upright than and are not        as compact as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema are more freely clumping and        denser and fuller than plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema have larger and more undulating        leaves than plants of the male parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the male parent selection        differ in leaf shape and color.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can be compared to plants of Aglaonemahybrida ‘Maria’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inChamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed fromplants of ‘Maria’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping and        denser and fuller than plants of ‘Maria’.    -   2. Plants of the Aglaonema were faster growing than plants of        ‘Maria’.    -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had larger and more undulating        leaves than plants of ‘Maria’.    -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and ‘Maria’ differed in leaf        shape and color.    -   5. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more low temperature        tolerant than plants of ‘Maria’.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can be compared to plants of Aglaonemahybrida ‘Green Majesty’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,069. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India,plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of ‘Green Majesty’ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more compact, freely        clumping and denser and fuller than plants of ‘Green Majesty’.    -   2. Plants of the Aglaonema were faster growing than plants of        ‘Green Majesty’.    -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had larger and more undulating        leaves than plants of ‘Green Majesty’.    -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and ‘Green Majesty’ differed in        leaf shape and color.    -   5. Plants of the new Aglaonema and ‘Green Majesty’ differed in        leaf petiole color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Aglaonema plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Aglaonema plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of‘Mukrock’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in 25-cm containers in Miami, Fla.during the summer and autumn in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse.Plants were grown under environmental conditions and cultural practiceswhich approximate those generally used in commercial Aglaonemaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 27° C. to 37° C., night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 26° C.and light levels averaged 1,500 foot-candles. Plants were one year oldwhen the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrida ‘Mukrock’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Aglaonema            hybrida identified as code number AG-2004-24, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Aglaonema            tenuipes, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings and divisions.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 to 28 days at            25° C. to 32° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 30 to 40 days at            12° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 30 to 35            days at 25° C. to 32° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots, winter.—About 45            to 60 days at 12° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fleshy, medium in thickness; off-white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; profuse, high density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat outwardly            arching plant habit; freely clumping habit; relatively short            internodes giving a compact, dense, full and symmetrical            habit; vigorous growth habit; developing leaves initially            upright, then arching outwardly with development.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane.—About 46            cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 70 cm.        -   Stem description.—Clumping habit: Plants of the new            Aglaonema are freely clumping with about twelve clumps            developing per plant. Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength:            Strong; somewhat flexible. Diameter, at the base: About            1.8 cm. Internode length, at the base: About 1.5 cm. Color:            Darker than N137A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate to whorled; simple.        -   Length.—About 23.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate, straight.        -   Base.—Cordate with oblique tendencies.        -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than            146A; venation, close to more green than 146A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Closest to 146B; venation, closest to            146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than            N137A; venation, darker than N137A. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Closest to N137B; venation, closest to N137B.        -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, outwardly arching with            development. Length: About 14 cm. Diameter, distal: About            4.5 mm. Diameter, proximal, flattened: About 2.4 cm.            Strength: Strong; flexible. Color, distal: Close to N137A.            Color, proximal: Close to N137A to N137B; area adjacent to            stem, close to 157A to 157C. Wing length: About 10 cm. Wing            diameter, base: About 4 mm. Wing color, inner and outer            surfaces: Close to N137A; towards the base, close to N137B;            area adjacent to stem, close to 157A to 157C.-   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence development has not been    observed on plants of the new Aglaonema.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Aglaonema.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been    observed to be relatively low temperature tolerant and to tolerate    temperatures ranging from about 15° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Aglaonema plant named ‘Mukrock’ asillustrated and described.